Cleaning device and frame therefor



July 7, 1959 s. SZLACHETKA CLEANING DEVICE AND FRAME THEREFOR Filed Feb. 20, 1957 United States Patent CLEANING DEVICE AND FRAME THEREFOR Stella Szlachetka, Chicopee Falls, Mass., assignor to Stanley Home Products, Inc., Westfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 20, 1957, Serial No. 641,284

1 Claim. (Cl. 15-229) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a duster or cleaning device.

The principal object of the invention is directed to the provision of an improved duster or cleaning device which is constructed and arranged for use in what are commonly hard to get at places, and is characterized by an elongated frame, having a handle, which supports a long and slim dusting or cleaning element.

The novel long and slim construction makes it possible to reach objects and locations which are normally out of the reach of prior art devices, while at the same time, the construction facilitates dusting and cleaning in deep and narrow crevices and pockets, and the like.

As a novel feature of the invention, an elongated pliable dusting and cleaning member, which is of tubular form, is adapted to be slipped onto and/ or be withdrawn from an elongated frame or holder. The dusting element may be removed from the frame for washing, replacement, or other purposes.

The frame or holder of the device is formed from elongated relatively yieldable, transversely spaced, side members which are arranged to normally spread apart thereby to yieldingly hold the cleaning member thereon against unwanted removal therefrom.

Various novel features and advantages of the device of the invention will be observed from the following description thereof, in the form at present preferred, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a small scale plan view of a dusting and cleaning device embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the frame or holder of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the handle of the device; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the tubular cleaning member, with the cleaning elements thereof being omitted.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the novel features of the invention will be fully described.

A frame or holder for a cleaning member is provided which includes a handle 2, having a pair of elongated side members 4 secured in a ferrule 6, which ferrule in turn is secured in the handle with the side members extending away therefrom.

The members 4 may be formed, if desired, from a single length of wire which is shaped as a U so that the members are connected at their outer ends, as at 5, in Fig. 2.

The members 4 or the length of wire from which they are formed are rather stilf yet somewhat resilient and are shaped so as to be bowed relative to one another inter mediate their ends, as indicated.

The side members normally assume the bowed relation shown, but are sufficiently yieldable towards one another to facilitate inserting the frame in an elongated sleeve.

The cleaning or dusting member of the device includes an elongated tubular body or sleeve 10. Said sleeve will be formed from pliable material of various kinds, such as fabric or the like. Longitudinal edges of a strip of suitable material will be stitched together, as indicated at 12, to provide the tubular form desired and an inner open end. The outer end of the sleeve will be closed, as by stitching.

Cleaning elements 14 are provided which may be in the ice form of elongated relatively pliable, soft and fiutfy yarns, or the like. Said elements 14 are secured to the sleeve by stitching, or by some other well known manner, and are arranged so that the ends thereof extend from the sleeve and provide therewith an elongated relatively soft and fluffy dusting and cleaning device.

The frame is insertable longitudinally in the open end of the sleeve. The sleeve will be of such dimensions, relative to the normally bowed members of the frame, that, as the frame is inserted therein, the frame side members 4 yield inwardly and yieldingly engage the sides of the sleeve. Thus the sleeve is releasably held on the frame.

Tapes 16 are secured to the inner end of the sleeve 10 and may be tied about the ferrule or handle to prevent unwanted displacement of the sleeve from the frame. The sleeve may be readily and easily slipped over and removed from the frame.

The handle has the ferrule secured therein, in a well known manner, and may be of any desired form, that shown for illustrative purposes being generally tapering, and provided with an opening 3 for receiving a hook or like for the hanging up of the device.

It will be observed that the sleeve 10 is yieldingly held by the frame but may be readily withdrawn therefrom for replacement by another sleeve, or for washing or the like.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

A two-part cleaning device comprising a frame and a cleaning member, said frame including a single elongated length of relatively rigid and somewhat resilient wire bent around intermediate its opposite ends to form an elongated U having a semi-circular outer end and opposite transversely spaced elongated side portions extending rearwardly therefrom to rear extremities, a handle having a ferrule in which the rear extremities of said side portions are rigidly secured in transversely spaced relation, said side portions of the frame having inner and outer substantially straight portions diverging transversely relative to one another from said ferrule and from said outer semi-circular end to intermediate portions thereof and being resiliently and relatively yieldable inwardly towards one another, said cleaning element including an elongated flat sleeve of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length formed from a fabric of relatively pliable material to have an open end and a closed end, a plurality of elongated pliable cleaning elements secured to said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom, the open end of said sleeve adapted to be slipped over the semi-circular outer end of the frame and the transverse dimension of said sleeve throughout the length thereof being such relative to the overall transverse dimension of the side portions of the frame that as said sleeve is drawn along to enclose the side portions said side portions yield towards one another to resiliently engage and releasably hold said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,260 Ferguson July 20, 1880 810,708 Brister Jan. 23, 1906 1,420,180 Casmire June 20, 1922 2,062,065 Miley Nov. 24, 1936 2,276,264 Goldfinger Mar. 10, 1942 2,542,491 Engel Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,901 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1923 254,032 Italy July 11, 1927 1,114,636 France Dec. 19, 1955 

